Police have made a swift arrest in the shooting death of 28-year-old Zheng Cheng Liu, a businessman from Central American Boulevard in Belize City. Liu was shot and killed this weekend in an incident that has no clear answers at this time.
Only a few details about the Liu’s killing are known at this. What has been revealed so far is that at around 9:35 p.m., on Saturday, November 22, 2019, police responded to information that an incident had occurred at a location between Miles 4 and 5 on the George Price Highway. When they arrived, they found the body of a man who was identified as Liu. It appears that he suffered gunshot injuries do the body.
What police learned subsequently is that about five minutes before police were called, Zheng was inside his vehicle about to drive off, when persons in the area heard the sound of gunshots. Someone else fled the area in his vehicle, heading in the direction of Belize City.
Reports are that Liu was at his workplace when he said that he had a matter to take care of. He then left in his vehicle, and police believe that he then picked up a man. Information to the press is that he knows the man from a car dealership business that he operates. Credible reports are that one of the vehicles he had gotten shipped to Belize broke down at the area where his body was found. At this time, it is believed that he went out to that location to look after it. What happened between him, the man he took to the location, and the person who was in the vehicle when it broke down has not yet been established.
Rapid police response allowed police to pursue the person who fled in Liu’s vehicle. They eventually intercepted the vehicle in the Gungulung area of Belize City and the driver was taken into custody. Reliable information suggests that this person appeared to have bloodstains on his clothes. The vehicle was reportedly searched, and suspected blood, along with expended two expended shells, were located inside.
On Tuesday, November 26, 2019, police announced that they had arrested and charged 24-year-old Joseph Vacarro, a construction worker from Neal Pen Road, with the crime of murder. They believe that Vacarro had a hand in Liu’s killing.
On his arraignment Vacarro admitted to Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser that he was at the scene of the crime, but he said he did not fire the gun that killed Liu. According to Vacarro, two other persons were also at the scene, and that these people told police lies on him. Chief Magistrate Fraser remanded him to the Belize Central Prison until January 24th, 2020.
Liu, the man he is accused of fatally shooting, is described by members of the Belize Chinese Association as very well-liked by that community. They are distressed by his sudden killing, and they have decided to show their appreciation to the police for good investigative work.
Lui leaves behind a girlfriend and an unborn child.
